The goal of FreeCell is to clear the tableau into four foundation piles by suit, sequencing cards from ace to king. You use the four free cells to help you do this.
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Contents of this video:
0:05 FreeCell objective
0:19 FreeCell setup
0:59 FreeCell rules
2:47 FreeCell strategies
How to Set Up FreeCell
To set up FreeCell, deal seven face-up cards in the first four columns and six face-up cards in the next four columns. This is called the tableau.
Leave room for four free cells on the top left of the tableau and four foundation piles on the top right of the tableau.
How to Play FreeCell
FreeCell is unique in that the number of cards in the free cells dictate how many sequenced cards you can move from column to column. Add one to the number of cells available to determine how many cards you can move. For example, if you have three open cells, you can move a sequence of four (3 + 1).
It’s important to understand this so that you don’t fill the cells and limit your moves early in the game.
Once you’ve dealt the tableau, begin gameplay.
1. Identify where the aces and twos are in the tableau. You’ll need to free these early in the game to begin building your foundation piles.
2. Move cards by building sequences or using the free cells. You can build descending sequences of alternate colors. For example, moving the jack of diamonds to the queen of clubs.
3. If you get stuck, move a card to an open free cell. The card beneath it can now be used in gameplay.
4. Place aces in the foundation piles as soon as they are free. Continue building the foundation piles from ace to king.
5. Any card or sequence of cards can be placed in an empty column. However, empty columns allow you to move longer sequences. If a column in the tableau is empty, the number of cards you can move is doubled as long as you aren’t moving the sequence into the only empty column on the tableau. For example, if you have two empty free cells and an empty column, you can move a sequence of up to six cards as long as it isn’t moved to the empty column.
Once you move all the cards from the tableau to the foundation piles, you win the game!
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